Taking the PRS for music
So at work we get a letter from PRS for Music asking if we play any music there, what was interesting was that the assumption was that we were and that if we didn't (which we don't) please contact them. So when did PRS start to take on the mindset of the TV licensing department?
We ignored the letter and got another identical one shortly after, we ignored that; after all once again this does not apply to us. We then got a telephone call asking us if we play any music "No", "Okay I just need to take you through this checklist", "No, no we don't play any music at all full stop"
We've now had one final letter from them confirming that we've said we don't "perform or authorise the performance of music in [our] premises for either the benefit of [our] customers or staff and that [we] were not intending to use the Society's repertoire in this way in the future." Oh that's so nice of you except "Please be advised that PRS for Music do from time to time visit premises in order to assess what, if any, licensing requirements there may be" and PRS can be advised that we in turn can tell them to get the [beep] out of our offices.
Just to illustrate the con-game that this is; a radio station needs to pay PRS for playing music, in turn an office listening to said radio station needs to pay PRS because said broadcast is deemed public. Even better if you've a television in a public area playing a broadcast channel, said broadcaster pays a fee to PRS for use of music, you pay the BBC your licence fee for the privilege of watching said TV, and you also have to pay PRS because you may be broadcasting their copyrighted music in public. Methinks 'tis a licence to print money.
4 comments:
you should write to the press with this! PRS is sticking it in us poor business owners.
i run my own business and despite being only two of us, as it's a business, i've been slapped with a license fee! flipping heck, recession in full swing, and food prices are up, council tax up, and now PRS is in on the act too. every penny counts, but looks like it counts more for these fat cats who are already loaded, and all i read everyday is how these mega stars are living the lavish lifestyles and on holiday all the time, from the money we're paying for licenses. Bloody hell!
Sorry to hear about you getting stuck with a fee, shame you didn't give them as short a shrift as I did.
It is tempting to take it to the papers, hmm but which one will give it the coverage it deserves... time for research methinks.
Hi, I have received letters and now a phone call demanding payment for all 18 shops = £££££ where do we stand, can we not pay. Has anyone anywhere been fined ???
Yes fines have occurred, the ones making the headlines being the large companies.
Strictly speaking their actions are legal. The way to get around this would appear at first simply not to play any of their members' music, but as I mention they'll charge if you might at some point do so i.e. use a radio or television in public.
You could have non-copyrighted music played by non-members and not use a radio or television and make it clear to all employees that such items are not allowed except when used with headphones.
Of course you could be really cheeky and send PRS a return invoice for advertising their members' music?
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